AT least 15 persons were killed on Saturday when a group of unidentified gunmen opened fire at the popular Agbonchia Market in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The gunmen, who were about three in number, stormed the market on a motorcycle and shot sporadically at a place where motorcycles were washed inside the market.
Apart from those that were killed as a result of the attack, an undisclosed number of people sustained serious injuries.
A source explained that while some, who survived the attack, sustained gunshot injuries, others sustained minor injuries as a result of the stampede that occurred during the incident.
It was learnt that the trigger-happy men left immediately after the damage ostensibly to escape being arrested by security operatives.
“The people came into the market with a motorcycle and they were about three. We thought they came to wash their motorcycle, but before we knew it, they started shooting at the people who were washing their motorcycles.
“Immediately after shooting, they jumped on top of their bike and sped off. At the end, we saw not less than 15 lifeless bodies on the ground and several others with gunshot injuries. We don’t know the reason behind the ugly incident,” a source said.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, explained that only five persons were killed during the attack at the market.
Muhammad said the police had arrested one person in connection with the killings, saying that investigation had since begun with a view to apprehending those behind the act.
He said police preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was an attack by a cult group.
“The assailants came on motorcycles, opened fired on a motorcycle wash point at Agbonchia in Eleme and fled. Five persons lost their lives. Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident is related to cult activities.
“One suspect is right now undergoing interrogation, while investigation with a view to arresting the fleeing miscreants has commenced,” the state police spokesman said.
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